A Mountain of Hope 

By Jakki Jeffs

It's time to break into song!   

Although I am not a Julie Andrews type, I feel the need to sing ... "...I think of a few of my favourite things and then I won't feel so bad."

I have rewritten this message several times because - when I list in my mind the assaults on human life, morality, faith, pro-life, and freedom of speech and thought which have assailed this country over the last few months - I feel sad.

However, being an optimist by nature, by the end of a lung splitting chorus I thank God for a wonderful pro-life presence from one end of this country to the other. I thank God for the networking that goes on 24 hours a day which keeps us abreast of situations that require our attention. I thank God for the organizations that keep us actively involved and informed, the church leadership that challenges our government, the professional pro-life organizations of doctors, pharmacists, and bioethicists who guide and teach us, the young people who are joining this battle for life in the hundreds, and the members of federal and provincial legislatures who eloquently defend life, common decency, and morality.

I especially thank God for the pro-life leaders at every level of our organization across this great country who will not buckle to the anti-life juggernaut that wants to steamroll and batter down every ounce of opposition. We may falter, we may fall, but we will not stay down!

I thank God for those who will not bow to the "golden idol" no matter what the cost - a cost which may become too great for some to pay very soon in this country.

But where evil abounds there is even more grace, and we are experiencing a oneness across the country which has not been as apparent before. A oneness that brings individuals, groups, churches, and corporations together - standing side by side linked by a commitment to life, family, and morality - a link forged by faith and spirit which will not break now or ever.

As summer approaches, our thoughts turn even more to our families and the precious time that we share during this great time of the year. But you know we are going to have to work this summer - make the phone call on Bill C-13, The Assisted Human Reproduction Act which would allow the destruction of human embryos in the name of "scientific research" - let your MP know what you expect. Let your MPP know you no longer want to fund abortion with your taxes.

Have a wonderful summer, and if you are like me, sing a lot! But don't you ever give up championing human life, family, morality and freedom of speech, religion and thought. We must continue to challenge our society, always with love. We must not be silent, we must not be overwhelmed, we must not be cowards. We must be humble, but we must be heroic witnesses so that history will record that the moral decline of this nation was fought every step of the way by ordinary folks who were prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the generations to come.

We must leave a legacy of care, a legacy of hope, a legacy of faith, a legacy of witness, and a legacy of life in order for this country to fully embrace all her people.

Blessings to you all and I feel a song coming on...

"Climb every mountain,

Ford every stream,

Follow every rainbow,

Till you find your dream!"

Jakki